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Consider these tools to evaluate your time usage and to schedule towards increased efficiency!

Weekly Calendar (PDF) - a great way to schedule yourself in detail: block out the hours you're in classes; the times that you wake up, eat, and go to sleep; when you might visit Dixon or engage in activity; when you're expected to meet with a group; when you're studying (and what you're doing during that study time!); etc.

TIPS:

Before the test (adapted from Cuseo, Fecas & Thompson, 2007)

Prepare appropriately ahead of time. There are a variety of ways to prepare for tests that go well beyond studying and assessing your learning of course content. Being prepared both mentally and physically can provide you with the right frame of mind as you enter a test.

Sometimes, it can be hard to get going on a task. You might be battling motivation (in that you can't find the motivation you need to start), procrastination, distraction, or all of these at once. Sometimes, the feeling of challenge can shift from the getting-going-of-it to the keeping-at-it. The Pomodoro Technique can be a useful tool in this situation. The "Pomodoro" is the length of time spent on the task, a 25 minute interval.

It’s rare that weekly or nightly homework is assigned in college; so when it is, make sure to take full advantage of it. And when it isn’t, see if you can design something to replicate this practice. Homework is all about learning, practicing, and remembering the skills you need for exams and for future applications of information. Simply put, doing homework = studying for exams. Homework (whether you assign yourself or the professor assigns it) is a chance to practice what you know so you’re fully prepared for a quiz, test, or exam.

Attending class lectures is one of the most important things you can do for your academic success. Taking effective notes in class ensures your time spent in class is productive and useful. According to experts, taking notes in class has two primary functions: (a) it keeps you alert, attentive and accountable as you listen, and (b) the notes themselves become a record of what was said in lecture or discussion that can be used later for studying and review (Seward, 1910).

Reading is a foundational learning activity for college-level courses. Assigned readings prepare you for taking notes during lectures and provide you with additional examples and detail that might not be covered in class. Also, according to research, readings are the second most frequent source of exam questions (Cuseo, Fecas & Thompson, 2007).